This film was shown on TCM tonight for the first time. I thought it was outstanding for a film made in 1943.
First, Monty Woolley (as Priam Farll) was his typical curmudgeonly self as many might remember him from "The Man Who Came to Dinner". This was much more subtle and very funny. The plot involves a request from the King to return to England to be knighted as the Empire's preeminent impressionist artist. En route, his valet, who does not enjoy the isolation (he is on some South Seas island when the King's request reaches him) as much as his boss, catches "double pneumonia" and promptly dies on their arrival back in England.
Owing to the circumstances of being called out in the middle of the night, the doctor assumes that the man being attended to was Priam Farll when in fact it was his butler, Henry Leek. Priam, not really wanting the hubbub associated with being knighted, decides improvidently to assume the guise of his butler and live in obscurity. Unfortunately, there are too many circumstances that intervene. His butler on his death bed wanted to confess to some things. Priam, of course, wouldn't hear of it and the confessions become readily apparent in short order as the story progresses. It turns out that the butler was courting a woman who thinks that Priam is Henry Leek based on a photograph. Now this woman (played most ably by Gracie Fields), it turns out, is very perceptive and helps Priam out of a number of scrapes.
The film is delightful; it is a comedy that provided many a laugh out loud moment. I hope that it becomes available on DVD. I'd buy it.
The resolution of Priam's problems are acceptable to all and captures the attitude of many artists about their work. I would recommend this film anyone who wanted to watch with a cigar and a glass of port. Cheers!!!
First, Monty Woolley (as Priam Farll) was his typical curmudgeonly self as many might remember him from "The Man Who Came to Dinner". This was much more subtle and very funny. The plot involves a request from the King to return to England to be knighted as the Empire's preeminent impressionist artist. En route, his valet, who does not enjoy the isolation (he is on some South Seas island when the King's request reaches him) as much as his boss, catches "double pneumonia" and promptly dies on their arrival back in England.
Owing to the circumstances of being called out in the middle of the night, the doctor assumes that the man being attended to was Priam Farll when in fact it was his butler, Henry Leek. Priam, not really wanting the hubbub associated with being knighted, decides improvidently to assume the guise of his butler and live in obscurity. Unfortunately, there are too many circumstances that intervene. His butler on his death bed wanted to confess to some things. Priam, of course, wouldn't hear of it and the confessions become readily apparent in short order as the story progresses. It turns out that the butler was courting a woman who thinks that Priam is Henry Leek based on a photograph. Now this woman (played most ably by Gracie Fields), it turns out, is very perceptive and helps Priam out of a number of scrapes.
The film is delightful; it is a comedy that provided many a laugh out loud moment. I hope that it becomes available on DVD. I'd buy it.
The resolution of Priam's problems are acceptable to all and captures the attitude of many artists about their work. I would recommend this film anyone who wanted to watch with a cigar and a glass of port. Cheers!!!